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How Social Media Can Land You Your Next Job

We know you love social media, but it turns out that all of that computer and/or iPhone time might actually be good for you. According to a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, 84% of companies report using social media to recruit so-called job candidates—especially “passive” candidates: prospective hires who are not actively looking for a new job.

As reported by Fast Company, it comes down to “increasing the likelihood that potential employers find you in the first place” and crucially avoiding “being passed over because of your social content.”

Here’s how to do it, even if you’re “not looking” for a new job (wink). No, really. Why not position yourself to be the best hire you can be?

Put the right info in the right places.

According to Fast Company, the two platforms employers reference most are LinkedIn and Facebook (with Twitter coming in third)—“LinkedIn for skills assessment, Facebook for personality assessment.” The majority of us are already well versed in Facebook, but not everyone may be using the career networking platform. We’ve written extensively on LinkedIn’s unique etiquette guidelines, so brush up and ensure that you’re searchable.

Don’t let social media work against you.

According to the report, 43% of companies use social media to screen candidates, and 36% end up disqualifying candidates based on information they found on these platforms. Use common sense, and clean up your act: no incendiary or offensive messages and no references to excessive partying. Even bad grammar can be a turnoff to potential employers.

By the same token, don’t go overboard on the cleanup and end up making yourself look like a robot! Expressing your interests, hobbies, and healthy relationships with friends and family can all work in your favor.

Though Facebook may once have been just a place for idle distraction, it’s now a space with amazing potential. Don’t miss the opportunity!